WIlliam John Dunlop

DUNLOP, WILLIAM J., Death record implies he is unmarried.

ACCIDENT NO. 20 — April 1, 1913 – William Dunlap, Red Jacket Shaft, C. & H. Mine.

William Dunlap, a Scotchman, employed as Timberman by said company, met his death on this day while engaged in his work.

Justice Fisher, examined the following witnesses at the inquest held over his body:

Jerry Lynch: “I am a Timberman in the Red Jacket Shaft, was working with deceased at time of accident. We were a little above the 54th level straightening out the road in the shaft at the time. William was up above about 9 or 10 sets, on a stage plank. When we got through below he called to us to come up; we got up and rang one bell and the cage didn't stop; it broke the plank on which he was standing and knocked Dunlap down the center shaft. One bell means to stop the cage; the bell was all right, it worked all right before and after; the cage was supposed to stop below that plank. When the bell was rung, the cage was up about 6 ½ feet above the plank. The bell rang three times, I believe.”

John Miglo corroborates above testimony.

Joseph Defillippi upon his oath says:

Question: " What is your business?”
Answer: “Lander at the Red Jacket Shaft.”

Question: “Were you landing there last night at the time of the accident to William Dunlap?”
Answer: “Yes.”

Question: “Will you tell the jury just how this accident happened as you saw it?”
Answer: “The only thing I could say, I answered every bell I got up there;
The first bell I had the cage stopped right away, and I had only one bell. I was there all the time, especially when the cage was running, I pulled the bell to engineer right away. He stopped right away, the cage was going very slow, I had only one bell, the bell was ringing all right as far as I know. This happened about 1 o'clock, there was nobody with me during the noon hour, the door of the shanty was a little open. If I saw the bell line move I stop anyway, but it vere move. I was sitting down at the time and had the bell line in my hand. I could see the mark at the same time as I was looking at the rope. I took supper about 11 o'clock, when they were taking out the pumps at 78th level; I know the men were working in the shaft, they rang twice two bells to go to 57th level; the shaft men were working in the shaft to straighten the road; William Syncock was on the brake in the engine house. I don't know of keys being tight in the shaft at that time.”

Verdict: “We, the jury, find that the said William Dunlap came to his death by the cage striking the stage plank on which he was standing, throwing him into the center compartment of the Red Jacket Shaft at the 54th level on the 1st day of April, 1913.”

  (Mich.), H. C. (n.d.). Mine Inspector’s report for Houghton County, Michigan.  1913. HathiTrust. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015074974067&view=...